At Dawley C of E Academy, we believe that Computing is a vital part of our pupil’s education. Our computing program aims to ensure that all pupils are able to use computing resources and equipment confidently, safely and respectfully in their learning across all curriculum areas. We are preparing our pupils for their future education and work life in a growing technological world. ‘Computational thinking’ is a skill that pupils need to be taught, therefore we use high quality equipment such as laptops, iPads, Micro:bits and apps in our sessions
Computing Vision
At Dawley C of E Academy, we have four key values of Love, Hope, Peace and Trust that underpin everything that we do. We aim to teach the whole child and promote a love of learning across the academy. Our computing program aims to ensure that all pupils are able to use computing resources and equipment confidently, safely and respectfully in their learning across all curriculum areas. We are preparing our pupils for their future education in a growing technological world.
Computing Intent
The intent is that our pupils become confident, safe and active digital learners, who can apply a range of computing skills at a suitable level for their future education and beyond. Our pupils will be able to talk about how to stay safe online, understand and follow the E-Safety guidelines and know how and where to report concerning websites, comments or behaviour.
We are aware that our pupils have a wide range of experience with technological devices when they join our academy and through the use of Purple Mash we can build upon these skills and experiences.
The computing lead will plan and review the Purple Mash provision and program of work.Liaising with staff to review and further develop the curriculum offer for all pupils.
Computing Implementation
The implementation of Purple Mash ensures that the computing skills are progressive and have opportunities to build upon them year after year. The individual coding tasks, for example, for each year group, builds upon the skills the pupils have previously learnt. There are challenges at the end of each activity to assess our pupils and how they have applied their skills
Each pupil has their own login to Purple Mash that can be accessed both in the Academy and at home. All saved work can then be monitored by teaching staff and marked collating all the evidence together to demonstrate each individuals progress.
Computing will also be taught through unplugged coding activities linked to topic books and through additional resources such as green screening. Micro:Bits, coding mice and robots. The links to everyday life and equipment is also celebrated and explored.
Computing is taught weekly at Dawley, with many cross curricular links enhanced by pupils using their skills in different ways. We work with specialist computing ambassadors to support pupils learning and to develop and extend their skills.
Computing Impact
Pupil voice will demonstrate how well the pupils understand computing, the language involved in coding and their own understanding of how to use the skills across the curriculum. The pupils will be able to talk enthusiastically about their learning and ask appropriate questions, offer suggestions about how to use equipment in their activities.
Each classroom will have E-Safety posters visible for all pupils, and reminders in each session about how to stay safe online, especially within digital literacy sessions. The use of the internet across the curriculum areas also means the pupils are able to use and develop their information searching skills, bookmarking particular articles and assessing information for fake news more regularly.
Every year, we celebrate national internet safety day, with activities planned from Nursery up to Year 6.
The curriculum lead will monitor progress across the academy through pupil voice, evidence trawls and reviewing the yearly skills progression grids each term. Any gaps in learning will be quickly identified and targeted in the next teaching block. The curriculum lead will also review CPD for staff and be a source of information for other staff to develop their own computing skills.
At Dawley, we use the online learning platform Purple Mash to deliver our Computing curriculum, enhanced by physical computing resources such as Micro:Bits, Coding Mice, 3D printer.
The Computing curriculum is made up of 3 elements Computer Science, Information Technology and Digital Literacy.
NEW – Dawley pupils were guest speakers at Amazing ICT Computing Conference!
Our Year 6 pupils presented their 3D printing/DnT project to local schools and businesses at the Computing Conference.
Our pupils presented their project – to design a pedometer holder.
Mr Smith introduced the class to Tinkercad programme. The pupils designed a Micro:Bit holder using the Tinkercad programme. One design was chosen to be made using the 3D printer.
Our Computing experiences start in EYFS, even though there is no Technology element in the new EYFS curriculum, we firmly believe that skills in coding and confidence when using technology begins at the very start of our pupils school life.
New – Mr Smith from Amazing ICT came to help us explore robots in EYFS
Our pupils have used Purple Mash to draw their own penguins to accompany their story Lost and Found.
Year 5 have been exploring 3D modelling.
Year 6 have been learning about spreadsheets and creating formulas
(Cross curricular links Maths)
How much would it cost to make 60 cakes?
How much profit would you make if you sold the cakes for 50p each?
Here are our top ideas for you to try out at home
- Using a Bee Bot to learn about directions and distances. There is a free iPad app to download and a 69p app that is about pyramids. You can also program a robot called A.L.E.X. to move to a target position using a free iPad app.
- Design a game using this free BBC site that you can then share. You can use the game toolkit to make tricky challenges for your friends to play
- Daisy the Dinosaur app – where you programme a dinosaur to jump, move and change size. This is a free iPad app that allows you to touch the screen and shake the iPad to control the dinosaur.
- Putting instructions in the correct order to create a simple computer program. You can try out activities for Year 1 – 6 from J2Code
- Putting instructions in the correct order to complete a task successfully. For example, making a sandwich, crossing the road, brushing your teach and making some biscuits. This is called an algorithm.
- Complete an hour of code by using a sequence of simple instructions. Hour of Code
- Create your own interactive stories, games, and animations using a free online program called Scratch. You can also download a free copy.
- Not sure what games are age appropriate for your child? Check out this website Game Finder
